‘Scene’ in Burton-on-Trent (BoT) again on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is now just over a year (August 3rd. 2022) since the takeover of ‘Midland Classic’ was completed by the ‘ROTALA’ group, rebranding the company ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’.

 

On 09/08/2023 I posted a blog built around friend Peter Rose’s images of the fleet additions since that time.

 

All of course in ‘ROTALA’ blue.

 

This blog illustrates a return to BoT by both of us to look at some of what is left of the ‘Midland Classic’ fleet.

 

Will any of them ever be painted blue??

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we gathered on the day. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

YN08 MKO ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 40520.

Scania N270D / Scania Omnidekka

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1102.

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWZ ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30985.

Scania K230UB / Irizar i3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Menzies’, Heathrow.

 

 

 

 

SN11 BNL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 40521.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘First Capital’ No. 33623.

 

 

 

 

YJ66 AOY ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30996 

Optare MetroCity V1080MC / Optare

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Midland Classic’ No. 6.

 

 

 

JB14 MCL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 31429, X12 Burton upon Trent Lichfield.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Midland Classic’ No. 1.

 

 

 

YN05 GXL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30901.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1012.

 

 

 

 

YN57 FWG ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30908, the tutbury jinny.

Scania K230UB / Wright Solar

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1031.

 

 

 

 

YJ16 DXT ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30992.

Optare MetroCity V1010MC / Optare

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Midland Classic’ No. 4.

‘Scene’ in Burton on Trent once more on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

This blog is a follow up to the one I posted on 09/09/2022 titled ‘Scene’ in Burton on Trent (BoT) again.

                      

 It is the combination of two separate visits on 08/09/2022 and 20/09/2022.

 

LJ04 LGA ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 40634.

VDL DB250 / Wright Eclipse Gemini /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘DIAMOND’ vinyls have been applied to all the former buses of‘Midland Classic’ that I saw.

 

 

 

 

LJ04 LGA ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 40634.

VDL DB250 / Wright Eclipse Gemini /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN17 ONG LJ04 LGA ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 31001.

Scania K250UB / Irizar i3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Pictured on 20/09/22.

 

 

 

 

FOR 35T ‘Diamond Buses’ No. 40100, Julia.

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New registered KV02 USN to ‘Connex Bus’ No. TA96.

 

Rebuilt to part open top in 2016 for ‘London City Tour’.

 

The ‘spots’ scattered across the image are the light rain that was falling.

 

Pictured on 08/09/22 at Wetmore Road.

 

 

 

 

‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ (DBEML).

Wetmore Road, depot line up

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Midland Classic’ had this small heritage fleet that is regularly seen at rallies and sometimes in service.

 

The fact that none of them are carrying ‘DBEML’ fleet numbers would suggest to me that they were not part of the deal on takeover day.

 

From left to right they are,

 

798 UXA         AEC Routemaster / Park Royal.

TOJ 592S       MCW Metrobus Mk. 1.

FD52 GGV.     DAF SB200 / Wright Commander

WDA 4T          Leyland Titan / Park Royal.

HXI 3009        Leyland Lynx / Alexander (Belfast) N type.

TFA 13            Scania L94UB Wright Solar.

 

Pictured on 08/09/22 at Wetmore Road.

 

I hope I am wrong but where, I wonder, do they go next?

 

 

 

 

F96 PRE ‘Midland Classic ‘No. 96, Stevensons.

Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Although it was standing a little way from the lineup, I think that it is probably in the same boat as the buses in the lineup.

 

 Pictured at Wetmore Road.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Derby once more on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

In Derbyshire, when bus routes have been re-tendered, the date for the changeover from the old operator to the new usually falls around the start of October.

 

You have already witnessed this in my blog where ‘Derbyshire Community Transport’ took over three routes from their previous operators.

 

So, with this in mind that I set off to see what was different in Derby and then this turned up.

 

SK72 CVY ‘Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No.15, unibus.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

One of three, the others being.

 

SK72 CVZ No. 16 and SK72 CWA No. 17.

 

Painted in this very attractive livery that first appeared on their single deck brother which featured in my blog dated 04/10/2022.

 

 

 

 

SK72 CVY ‘Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No.15, unibus.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

SK72 CVY ‘Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No.15, unibus.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC /3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWV ‘DIAMOND BUS (EAST MIDLANDS) Ltd’. No. 30989.

Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

So, back to the changeover.

 

Services 9 & 9A that seem to be interworked with one bus were previously operated by ‘Littles Travel’.

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWV ‘DIAMOND BUS (EAST MIDLANDS) Ltd’. No. 30989.

Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

FX55 VLO ‘DIAMOND BUS (EAST MIDLANDS) Ltd’. No. 30905.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Service 73 was previously operated by ‘Littles Travel’.

 

 

 

FJ10 NFV ‘Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 767, ‘notts+derby’.

Volvo B7RLE / Plaxton Centro

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Not part of any changeover but present on the day

 

New to ‘Felix’ Stanley.

 

 

 

 

YJ12 NAU ‘trentbarton’ No. 500.

Optare SoloSR M960

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

A rather snatched image that shows the bus having spoilt its manners and needing to be removed on a towbar.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Burton-on-Trent, ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ (MC) on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

All the buses pictured here carry full ‘MC’ livery and legal identification but since the take over at the start of August, are owned by ‘Diamond Buses (East Midlands) Ltd’.

 

The images were all taken on 19/08/22 and although some of the subjects may have appeared previously in my blogs, I include them again as a record of what I saw on the day.

 

Within my own system of identifying images, I normally use the ownership of the vehicle as far as I know it.

 

On this occasion, out of respect for the company that I have followed for many years I will use ‘Midland Classic’.

 

LK04 NNL ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No.103.

Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Metroline London Northern’ No. VPL601.

 

Pictured outside ‘MC’s workshop at Wetmore Road.

 

 

 

 

SN11 BMU ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 63.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘First Capital’ No. DN3612.

 

Pictured at ‘MC’s Wetmore Road depot.

 

 

 

 

LJ04 LFV ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 46.

VDL DB250 / Wright Eclipse Gemini               

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Arriva London South’ No. DW82.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN08 MKP ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 62.

Scania CN270UD / Scania

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1103.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BV21 OPM ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 10.

Volvo B8RLE / MCV EVORA

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN57 FWG ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 75 ‘thetutburyjinny’.

Scania 230UB / Wright Solar

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

New to ‘Reading Buses’ No.1031.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KW14 MCL ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 2. X12 Burton/Lichfield

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro200

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWX ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 26.

Scania K230UB / Irizar i3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Menzies’, Heathrow No. P42.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YJ66 APF ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 8, airway.

Optare MetroCity V1080MC

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN17 ONJ ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 17.

Scania K250UB / Irizar i3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Reading Buses’ No. 24.

 

.

‘Scene on ‘Wetmore Road’, Burton on Trent on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Wetmore Road for those who don’t know is where the fleet of ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ (MC) is garaged.

 

Over the weekend of 28/29th August 2021 ‘MC’ held a Heritage Weekend to celebrate two anniversaries.

 

On the Saturday to celebrate 15 years of ‘MC’ operating in Burton.

 

On the Sunday to celebrate the 95th. anniversary of John Stevenson setting up in business to run buses between Burton and Uttoxeter via Tutbury.

 

A route that ‘MC’ still operates today.

 

I still remember a visit to Spath where ‘Stevensons’ depot at the time was.

 

If memory serves me right the company appeared under the name of ‘Stevensons of Spath’ in the listings in ‘Buses Illustrated’ as it was at the time. 

 

BV21 OPM ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No.10. 

Volvo B8RLE / MCV Evora / 1 of 3 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The new and recent addition to the fleet.

 

 

 

 

BV21 OPM ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No.10. 

Volvo B8RLE / MCV Evora / 2 of 3 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

BV21 OPM ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No.10. 

Volvo B8RLE / MCV Evora / 3 of 3 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YN17 ONG‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 15. Scania K250UB4 / Irizar i3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Regular readers/viewers may remember my blog dated 06/08/2021 when I posted a blog about short bodied Scania/Irizar i3 buses that had entered service with ‘MC’.

 

Another batch, this time with longer bodies have been bought from ‘Reading Transport’.

Registered YN17 ONF /G /H /J /K and /L and numbered in order 14 to 19.

New to ‘Reading Transport’ as No. 22.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN17 ONF ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 14. Scania K250UB4 / Irizar i3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Regular readers/viewers may remember my blog dated 06/08/2021 when I posted a blog about short bodied Scania/Irizar i3 buses that had entered service with ‘MC’.

 

Another batch, this time with longer bodies have been bought from ‘Reading Transport’.

 

Registered YN17 ONF /G /H /J /K and /L and numbered in order 14 to 19.

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ as No. 21.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Burton on Trent. Scania/Irizar on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

As most of my regular readers/viewers will know, one of my favourite places when it comes to bus interest.

 

Mainly because of the Covid 19 pandemic, it is over a year ago since I last visited.

 

So, what’s new? (to me at least).

 

YN64 FWV ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 24. Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Menzies’, Heathrow Airport as No. P40.

 

One of six purchased that have been used on car park / terminal shuttles at the airport.

 

Apparently, the flat floor before the steps was full of racking for luggage.

 

Unusually built with ‘short’ bodies.

 

The ‘theatre’ style seating which appears to be almost to coach standard is quite steeply graded which is different to normal.

 

It would seem that the seats are either new or have been re-upholstered in fleet colours. 

 

Very smart!

 

It will be interesting to see how the citizens of Burton take to them.

 

 

 

YN64 FWV ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 24. Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWX ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 26. Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWX ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 26. Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWX ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 26. Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /3

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Incidentally, the sole passenger in this image is my wife Barbara.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWX ‘Midland Classic of Burton’ No. 26. Scania K230UB / Irizar i3 /4

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at Euro Bus Expo 2014 part 4

I have been attending these shows for some years now and I am always impressed with the effort that manufacturers put into their products.

 

I will not attempt to cover the show in any great detail. That has and will be done by the professional magazines. Instead, I will focus on the bits that appealed to me.

 

I discovered the buses produced by the Spanish coachbuilder Irizar well over 20 years ago on a holiday in Majorca when they were virtually unknown in the UK.

 

I have followed the companies fortunes ever since and seeing as my local operator ‘trentbarton’ have a number in service, albeit all coaches, I have spent many an hour in their company.

 

So the appearance of an Irizar bus in the outside display area demanded further investigation.

 

The vehicles are generally parked up tight to each other for at the NEC, space costs money. So getting suitable images of the bus, The Irizar i3 were not easy.

 

 

The door was open so a walk inside was called for.

 

What I had not expected was the seating arrangements which were tiered in what I think is called ‘theatre style’ which should give everyone a good forward view.

 

I have seen this done before on coaches in Germany built by a coachbuilder called ‘Drogmoller’ but I think that it is the first time I have seen it on a bus.